India planning to establish own space station: ISRO chief K Sivan

Earlier on Wednesday, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Dr K Sivan, while addressing a press conference had said that the Indian space agency will launch its Chandrayaan 2 Mission to the Moon on 15 July.

SNS Web | New Delhi | June 13, 2019 4:17 pm

First and Exclusive picture of Chandrayaan-2 the lander and orbiter at ISRO Satellite Integration and Testing Establishment. (Image: Twitter/@DDNewsLive)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief K Sivan, on Thursday, while addressing the media said that the Indian space agency is planning to have a space station for India.

“We are planning to have a space station for India, our own space station,” said Sivan.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday informed that Chandrayaan-2 would be launched on July 15, 2019, tentatively and it will land on the surface of the Moon on either 6 or 7 September. It will also carry a rover.

Chandrayaan-2 would be an extension of Chandrayaan-1.

“On the eve of the 75th Independence anniversary of India in 2022, ISRO has resolved to send its first human Mission into space. It could be before 2022 for which an exclusive special cell has been created. Gaganyaan National Advisory Council would monitor the planning and preparation of the project,” said Jitendra Singh.

Earlier on Wednesday, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Dr K Sivan, while addressing a press conference had said that the Indian space agency will launch its Chandrayaan 2 Mission to the Moon on 15 July.

“ISRO has firmed up that Chandrayaan 2 Mission will be launched on July 15 early morning at 2 hours 51 minutes,” Sivan had said.

The launch will take place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

“The day we are going to land is either September 6 or September 7 – that day happens to be the beginning of a lunar day. For one full lunar day, the lander and rover will be functioning and carry out scientific experiments,” said Sivan, adding that the Chandrayaan 2 Mission contains three components and the composite body of Chandrayaan 2 is kept inside GSLV MK-III.

The Orbiter and Lander modules of Chandrayaan 2 will be carried by GSLV-Mk-III. The Lander will land on the surface close to the Moon’s South Pole.

“The final descent operation will last 15 minutes,” Sivan said.

“The total mass of Chandrayaan 2 system is 3.8 ton; out of 3.8 ton, nearly 1.3 ton is the propeller,” he added.

Sivan said that the cost of the mission is Rs 603 crore. An additional Rs 375 crore will be incurred as launch cost.